After Losing Ground, Beuerlein Gains a Victory

For three quarters it was your typical exhibition dirge, a 3-3 tie that threatened to drag into overtime. Then, quarterback Steve Beuerlein and Jeff Jaeger kicked up some fourth-quarter excitement, not all of it scrapbook material, and the Raiders escaped with a 13-10 victory over the Chicago Bears before a crowd of 32,101 at the Coliseum.

With 1:40 remaining, Jaeger spared the world an exhibition overtime with a 40-yard field goal, which put the game out of its misery. The gods apparently were in agreement, as Jaeger’s kick hit the top of the right upright and deflected inside the post.

The game-winning drive was orchestrated by one-time starter turned mop-up man Beuerlein, who atoned for Maurice Douglass’ 31-yard interception return for touchdown earlier in the quarter that put the Bears ahead, 10-3.

Before he had time to sulk, Beuerlein called his backup unit together in the huddle.

“The first thing I said was, ‘I screwed up, it was my fault, it’s not going to happen again,’ ” he said later.

From his 29-yard line, it took Beuerlein three plays to get the game tied. Vance Mueller rushed six yards on first down, then ran for 33 more on second.

On play No. 3, Beuerlein found a wide open wide receiver, Jamie Holland, in the right corner of the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown with 7:17 left.

Beuerlein, in a fight for the No. 2 quarterback job, got the ball back with 5:06 remaining and led a 10-play drive toward the winning field goal, making two crucial third-down conversions. On third and nine at his 49, he completed a 12-yard pass to tight end Greg Harrell. On third and two at the Bears’ 31, Beuerlein ran four yards to the 27, setting up Jaeger for the game-winning kick.

Beuerlein completed five of 10 passes for 65 yards while playing the final quarter. Fighting back after the lost season of 1990, he knows he can’t afford many mistakes.

“I was telling a couple of the coaches that I almost felt like a rookie out there, as far as the signals and executing,” he said. “I’m still a little rusty. It’s not like riding a bicycle. A couple of plays I screwed up on. That’s a couple plays too many.”

Quarterback Vince Evans, who didn’t play last week, didn’t get much of a chance to secure his No. 2 position. He was scheduled to play the third quarter, but the offense ended up with only one possession in the quarter. Evans completed one of two pass attempts.

“It’s disappointing,” Evans said. “When the quarter ran out, I definitely anticipated getting some (playing time) of the fourth, then Steve would have the rest. As it turned out, time was against me, and for Steve.”

The bulk of the game was more typical of the Raiders’ summer. The first-team defense turned in another shutout, as far as touchdowns, and the first-team offense couldn’t find the end zone for the third time in four games.

Jay Schroeder and the offense salvaged an otherwise dreadful first half with a 50-yard drive before intermission that led to a 47-yard field goal by Jaeger as time expired.

Still, it wasn’t easy. Schroeder needed a 13-yard completion to Tim Brown on fourth down to position Jaeger in field goal range from the 30. After a rocky start, Schroeder completed five of six passes for 51 yards on the drive, and also had a seven-yard run.

Before that, Schroeder’s highlight was throwing a block on the Bears’ 350-pound defensive tackle, William Perry, and living to tell about it.

“I don’t know what’s worse,” Schroeder said, “bouncing off the top of him or cutting him and letting him fall on you.”

Schroeder’s final drive made his day respectable--seven of 14 for 95 yards--but the first unit is hardly in mid-season form.

“I’d like to see more productivity on the offensive side,” Coach Art Shell said diplomatically. “We need to get the ball into the end zone.”

One of the bright spots for the Raiders was wide receiver/kick returner Tim Brown, who had a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown nullified by a penalty. He also caught two passes for 28 yards.